Question: What causes hair loss in menopausal women? Is it a hormonal imbalance?
Dr. Hibberd’s answer:
By far the most common causes of hair loss in menopausal women relate to physical hair damage from the salon or from overly vigorous traction damage to the hair, followed by mental and physical stress, drug or chemotherapy side effects, or less common hormonal imbalances.
While genetics may contribute to the degree of hair loss seen in women, it is generally less prominent than the male pattern baldness, which does have a very strong link to testosterone.
Most baldness I see in women is caused by heat damage from dryers, traction loss from inappropriate styling techniques, or physical damage from the use of coloring agents, and permanent hair solutions for hair styling.
You should visit your doctor as soon as possible, if you are losing your hair. Blood tests can identify potential causes and you may be offered a prescription for topical Minoxidil to use to help slow your hair loss.
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